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No. 23 Georgia looks to bounce back vs. Western Carolina

Sep 15, 2007 - 11:50 AM Western Carolina (0-2) at No. 23 Georgia (1-1), 1:00 pm EDT

ATHENS, Georgia (Ticker) - Matthew Stafford and Georgia have to put last week behind them.

Stafford and the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs look to shake off a Southeastern Conference loss when they conclude a three-game homestand Saturday against Western Carolina of the Football Championship Subdivision.

After opening the season with a surprisingly easy 35-14 win over Oklahoma State, the Bulldogs fell to South Carolina here last week, 16-12.

A talented sophomore, Stafford threw an interception at the South Carolina 15 on a desperation pass with six seconds left for Georgia, which mustered just four field goals from Brandon Coutu.

Stafford completed just 19-of-44 passes for 213 yards in the defeat.

"We've got to be focused on getting better each week," Georgia coach Mark Richt said Monday. "We've got to keep working hard on the little things. There's still plenty of football left to be played. Our goal is to get better and play the best game we can on Saturday."

The Catamounts of the Southern Conference opened their season with a 52-6 setback at another SEC school, Alabama, then fell to Eastern Kentucky last week, 45-21.

Todd Spitzer and Adam Hearns combined to throw three touchdowns but also tossed four interceptions in the defeat.

The teams are playing for just the second time.